Machine for washing drinking glasses and the like



Oct. 11,1960 H. c. NOE

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR Harold C. N06

ATTORNEY 06L 1960 H. c. NOE 2,955,304

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HaroldCLNoe WI 0 all. BY

ATTORNEY H. C. NOE

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 77 Harold C.Noe

ATTORN EY Oct. 11, 1960 H. c. NOE 2,955,304

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY 9. WWW

ATTORNEY H. c. NOE 2,955,304

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE 5 Sheet 5 Filed may1957 v'ENTo Hammad Cv oe BY 3- WM W ATTORNEY MACHINE FOR WASI HNGDRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Harold C. Noe, Upper Montclair, NJ.,assignor to Kidde Manufacturing Co., Inc., Bloomfield, N.J., acorporafion of New Jersey Filed May 27, 1957, Ser. No. 661,654

6 Claims. (Cl. 15-75) The present invention relates to brushing andscrubbing, and, more particularly, to an improved machine for washingdrinking glasses and similar receptacles.

Establishments which serve beverages to a large number of'patrons duringrelatively short periods of time are faced with the problem ofmaintaining an adequate sup-' ply of clean drinking glasses. One way ofattempting to solve this problem is to have available asuflicient numberof clean glasses which are expected to be used during such periods andto wash the glasses between such periods of use. This requires a largeinvestment in glassware and a great amount of storage space both forused and clean glasses which requirements are objectionable,particularly, where compactness of the establishment is necessitated.Another way of attempting to solve this problem is to serve thebeverages in disposable receptacles such as paper cups. However, thisdoes not provide a complete solution to the problem because not allbeverages can be served in such receptacles. Also, it has beenestablished that it is more economical to wash drinking glasses than topurchase paper cups.

With these economic factors in mind, machines for washing drinkingglasses and the like have been proposed heretofore. These machinesgenerally comprised a rotating central brush, rotating and revolvingouter brushes, means for spraying water on the interior and exterior ofthe glasses, and means for introducing a liquid detergent into the washwater. However, such previously known machines have met with little orno success because of one or more various inherent disadvantages thereofwhich have been, for example, the bulk and weight of the machine wherebyit occupied a considerable space and was difficult to be moved from onelocation to another, the requirement of excessive volumes of washing andrinsing water to assure proper cleaning together with the high cost ofwater used, difficulties encountered in holding the glass in the machineduring the cleaning thereof, and contamination of the brushes uponprolonged use thereof.

4 Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved drinking glass washing machine of the aforementioned type whichis not subject to the foregoing difficulties and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such a machine which is light in weight andcompact in construction and wherein certain components are so arrangedthat a simplified drive can be utilized.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein the Washing andrinsing cycles are of a minimum duration to thereby economize in thevolume of water required. V

' Another object is to provide'such a machine wherein the brushesare-arranged to reduce rotational thrust on the glass to minimum wherebythe glasses can be conveniently held with one hand even if the hand ofthe operator is wet. Another object is to provide such a machine whereinthe washing head is so arranged that the glasses can be ice.

inserted therein with maximum comfort and convenience to the operator.

Another object is to provide such a machinewherein Other and furtherobjects of the invention will be obviousupon an understanding of theillustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated inthe appended claims, and various, advantages not referred to herein willoccur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention inpractice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposesofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away for clearness,illustrating a glass washing machine in accordance with the presentinvention as seen from one side thereof.

. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the machine as seen from theopposite side thereof.

- Fig. 3 is a top view of the washing head with parts broken away toillustrate the arrangement of the brushes.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 onFig. 3.

Fig. 4a is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of thearrangement shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view taken substantially along the line 5-5 onFig. 4, illustrating the gear system for driving the brushes.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pump for injectingdetergent into the wash water.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the water flow system of themachine.

Referring to the Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings in detail, a glass washingmachine is shown which generally comprises a base 10, a frame 11 mountedon the base, a brush or washing head 12 and a motor 13 for driving thesame supported by the frame in the manner about to'be described, areceptacle 14 for storing .a supply of liquid detergent, :a pump 15 fordispensing measured quantities of detergent from the receptacle andinjecting the same into the wash water supplied to the brush head, acasing (not shown) for enclosing the motor, the tank and the pump, and ahood or shield 17 for the brush headmounted on a cup-shaped troughmember 19.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the motor has a drive shaft 20 and the brushhead has a driven shaft 21, and the motor and brush head are mounted sothat the shafts 20 and 21 are parallel to each other and pass through acommon plane perpendicular thereto, whereby means disposed in the commonplane, such as pulleys 22 and 23 on the respective shafts and a belt 24place the shafts in driving connection. This is accomplished byproviding the frame with a pair of connected sections 25 and 26' whichare at right angles to each other and respectively support the motor andthe brush head with pulley 22 being disposed upwardly of and beyond theupper endof the section 25 and the pulley 23 being adjacent the section.26. Preferably, the sections 25 and 26 are each inclined atapproximately 45 with respect to horizontal whereby the washing head 12is also inclinedf'at a similar angle.

Some of the advantagesof the foregoing arrangement are that the brushhead is at an angle which makes it readily accessible to and convenientfor the operator in inserting, holding and removing the glassware, themotor and brush head are close to each other and comp'actly-an-angedwhereby only a short length of belt is Patented Oct. 11, 1960 requiredto connect the same, and the machine has a 7 well balanced overallappearance.

As shown in Figs, 3 and 4, the brush head includes a central brush 27and a plurality of outer brushes 28, wherein shown as three in number;structure for mounting and effecting rotation of the brushes;and-conduits, connections and "valving for supplying water to thebrushesa-nd the glass to be'washed as about to be described.

The central :brush is mounted on the upper end of the brush head shaft21 for rotation-therewith and is detachably connected thereto. Toaccomplish this, the central brush is provided with central tubularsleeve 29, and a ring 30 secured within the sleeve 29 adjacent the lowerend thereof, and formed with a concentric upper bore 31 and .an offsetlower bore 32 communicating with the upper bore; and the shaft 21 isprovided at upperend with a circular offset formation 33 adapted to' fitinto the lower bore 32 and lock the brush for rotation with the shaft.The lower end of the brushhead shaft 21 is journalled for rotation in ablock 34 The block 34 has a circular boss 18 at its upper end whichextends through a central aperture formed in the bottom of a cup-shapedtrough member 19, and has a flange 3-9 to which the bottom of the member19 is secured to provide a fluid-tight seal (Fig. 4). Suitable brackets49 secured to the member 19 and frame section 26 at opposite sides(Figs. 1 and 2) serve to mount the block 34and the trough on the framewith the lower face of-the pulley 23 adjacent and parallel to the uppersurface of the frame section 26. i

The central brush 27 includes a lower member 35, which is generallycylindrical and preferably is tapered upwardly slightly to facilitateinsertion thereof into a drinking glass, and is mounted on the sleeve29' which extends from top to bottom thereof. The central brush furtherincludes a pair of upper members 36 or heads which have a generallysemi-circular contour adapted to be flattened out to brush the innerbottom wall of the glass. The brush members 36 are on the knob ofacentrally bored element 37 which has a tubular yieldahle dependingportion 38 press-fitted intothe upper end of the sleeve 29' to removablymount the brush members 36 for rotation with the brush member 35.

The outer brushes 28 are supported at equidistarrtly, circumferentiallyspaced points 'about the central brush 27 with the axes of rotation ofall the brushes parallel to each other. This is accomplished byacombined brushhead platform and gear housing 40 comp rising circularupper and lower members 41 and 42 which haveeentral bearings 43formounting the platform for rotation with respect tothe: shaft 21bearings 45 spaced circumferentially about the: central bearings forrotatably supporting outer brush shafts 46, and bearings 47 intermediateadjacent bearings. 45- .for rotatably supportingidler: gear shafts 48.The shafts 46 each have an offset formation 50 adapted to lit into anoffset bore-44 of a ring 51 within the brush member supporting sleeve52- of'the outer brushes, whereby the outer brushes are secured to theirshafts for rotation therewith. Y i i shown in Figs. 4 and the gearsystem for effecting. rotation of the brush shafts 46 and rotation ofthe brush head platform and-gear housing 40, whereby the outer brushesrevolve about the inner brush, comprises a drive gear 55 within thehousing and secured "for rotation on the shaft 21, an idler gear 56secured within the housing and secured on each of theshafts 48andmeshing with the gear 55, an outer brush driving gear-5 7withinfthe'housing and secured to each of the shafts 46 and each meshingwith one of the. idler gears 56 adjacent thereto, a sunjgear 58rsecuredzto the" boss 18 of the block 34; with. a. central shaft bearing 59-extending through the center'- thereof, and a pinion gear 60, secured on-the lower end of theidler gear shafts 4. beneath thehousing. andmeshing with the sun gear 58;.

(In. this; manner, when. the central shaft- 21 and the;

4 drive gear 55 rotate in a clockwise direction, the idler gears 56rotate in a counterclockwise direction and the outer brush gears 57rotatein a clockwise direction, whereby both the central brush 27 andthe outer brushes 28 rotate in a clockwise direction. However, since thedriving forces of these brushes by being in frictional engagement with aglass placed over the central brush and-within the outer brushes areapplied atopposite sides ofthe glass, the forces tending to rotate theglass are applied in opposite directions and overcome each other,whereby praetieallyno rotational thrust is applied to the glass and theglass can be held by the band of the operator with ease and a minimumofeffort.

- ship with the fixed sun gear 58.

As the central and'outer brushes rotate in. the foregoing manner, thepinion gears 60 on the idler gear shafts rotate in a counter-clockwisedirection and cause the gear housing and platform 40 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction by reason of their meshing relation- In thismanner, the outer brushes 28 revolve about the center wall of the glassand impart a scrubbing action on the entire periphcry of the outer wall.

The system for spraying water onto and within the glass while scrubbingthe glass with the brushes includes vertical pipes 61 closed at theupper ends and mounted on the upper housing member 41 between adjacentoutcrbrushesx28 and having perforations 62 facing the central.

brush 27 for spraying water against the outer wall of the. glass, and anarrangement whereby water is sprayed upwardly through the centralaperture of the element 37 and against the inner bottom wall of theglass from which it flows onto, the central brush which directs it tothe inner side wall of the glass. Provision is made in this system forsupplying water in response to the insertion ofa glass between thecentral and outer brushes and to, supply water at a reduced rate of flowonly to the central-'brush'between glass washing operations as about tobe. described. The essential components. of this system are the shaft21, the block 34, the upper. housing member 41, the sleeve 29 and theelement 37.

To; accomplish the foregoing, the shaft 21 (Fig; 4a) has a bore 65extending therethrough which is closed at its lower end. by a plug 64and is divided into an upper discharge. section and a lower valvechamber by a p ar-. tition 66havingv a central aperture 67 therein.

Theivalve chamber includes a plurality of circumfer entially spacedlower side inlets 68 to the bore adapted to, communicate with a gland 69in the block 34 which is connectcd'to'asupply of fresh water by apassageway- 70, a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper sideoutlets71- to the bore adapted to communicate with a. gland 72 which isconnected for discharging the water through a passageway 74 leading todetergent pump 15, and a downwardly facing valve seat 75, between theinlets.-

tition 66 adapted to communicate with a gland 8'1 which is connectedforreceiving water through a passageway 82 coming from the detergentpump 15, and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper side.outlets, 83 adapted to communicate with a gland 84 in the upper. housingmember 41 to which the lower ends of the spray pipes 61 are connected.The diameter of the valve stem 78 is much less than that of theshaft'bore whereby water: can; fiow freely from the inlets; 80,

to the outlets 83 and into the sleeve 29 above its ring.30. The valvestern 78 is controlled to unseatthevalve mrmbe by an, a se b y. wh is ues n e 3.5;

in the sleeve 29 just above the ring 30 having a tubular section 86 forslidably supporting the upper end of the valve stem, a second tubularvalve stem 87 connected to the stem 78 as about to be described andhaving its lower end slidabl'y supported by the spider section 86, anoperating member 89 extending through the aperture of the element 37 ofsmaller diameter than the aperture and having an enlargement 90 at itsupper end for supporting a yieldable plug 91 adapted to be engaged bythe inner bottom wall of the glass to effect opening of the -valve andhaving a lower tubular section 92 into which the upper end of the stem87 extends, and a spring- 94 biased between a flange-95 on the member 89and the spider 85 for returning the member 89 to its upper position.

' Provision is made for supplying fresh water at a reduced rate of flowby utilizing tubular valve stems 78 and 87 with the lower stem 78communicating with a passageway 96 extending through the valve member 76to the inlet side of the valve chamber and with the upper portion of thetubular section 92 of the member 89 having side outlets 97 fordischarging the water leaving the upper end of the valve stem 87 ontothe central brush. The upper end of the lower valve stem 78 and thelower end of the upper valve stem 87 abut against shoulders formedwithin the tubular section 86 which forms a seal about the abutting endsof the stems and provides for direct fluid flow communication betweenthe stems. Thus, while the machine idles momentarily between washingoperations, the spray of water directed onto the central brush wets thesame and in turn wets the outer brushes so that, while the outer brushesare in contact with the central brush they scrub each other and thespray efiects cleaning thereof; Preferably, the outer brushes mesh orinterengage with the central brush to provide for vigorously scrubbingeach other and both sides of the glass when pushed apart upon insertionof the glass. j

The water which is discharged during the glass washing and thebrushscrubbing operation is collected in the lower end of the cup ortrough 19 and is drained therefrom through an outlet 98 at the front orlowermost point having a drainage tube 99 attached thereto forconducting the used water to a sink or drain pipe (not shown).

Fig. 6 illustrates the'detergent pump 15 in detail, and Fig. 7illustrates the manner in which the pump is connected in the watersystem "of the washing machine. The pump includes an inlet 104 connectedby a tube 105 to the source of liquid detergent 14, a water inlet 106con-' nected by a tube 107 to the valve outlet passageway 74, and awater outlet 109 connected by a tube 110 to the inlet passageway 82. Thepump further includes a mixing-chamber 111 between the water inlet andthe water outlet, a compression chamber 112, into which detergent entersby way of the inlet-104, and valving for establishing fiow communicationbetween the detergent inlet and the compression chamber and between thecompression I chamber and the mixing chamber.

As shown in Fig. 6, such valving includes a valve seatl113'in thecompression chamberl surrounding the detergent inlet and facingdownstream of the detergent inlet, a valve member 1 14 including asealing element 115, and a spring 116 for urging the valve member on itsseat. Such valving further includes a piston assembly 117 having itsupper end in the mixing chamber and its lower end in the compressionchamber and having a central bore 118 for establishing fluid flowcommunication between the chambers which has a valve seat 119 facingdownstream of the bore, a valve member 120 including a sealing element21, and a spring 122 for urging the valve member on its seat.

The piston assembly extends through a stepped bore 124 formed in thebody of the pump between the chambers in which a spring 125 is arrangedfor urging the pistonassembly upwardly towards the mixing chamber, withthe upper surface of the piston assembly 117 abutting an adjustable stop126 which determines the uppermost position thereof. The piston assemblyincludes a flange which is engaged by the spring 125 and is adaptedtoengage a shoulder 101 which determines the lowermost position of thepiston assembly. The piston assembly is supported for movement in thebore 124' by a pair of flexible diaphragms 127 and 128. The dia-' phragm127 is secured at the upper end of the piston assembly and provides asealing wall between the mixing chamber and the bore 124. The diaphragm128 is secured to the lower end of the piston assembly and provides 'asealing wall between the compression chamber and the bore 124. The bore124 is vented to the atmosphere by passageway 129.

In operation of the pump, the valving is normally positioned as shown inFig. 6 with the compression chamber 112 and the central bore 118 of thepiston assembly containing liquid detergent and the mixing chamber 111con taining water at rest because the flow control valve mem-' ber 76 ison its seat 75. Upon unseating of the valve member 76, water surgesthrough the mixing chamber and this surge exerts pressure on the upperend of the piston assembly 117 and the diaphragm 127 which drives thepiston'assembly downwardly as view in opposition to the spring 125.

As this occurs, the lower end of the piston assembly enters thecompression chamber to decrease the volumetric capacity thereof, wherebythe liquid detergent is displaced due to the pressurethereon and iscaused to unseat the valve member and to be injected into the mixingchamber.

After the surge subsides, the spring returns the piston assembly to itsnormal position and the spring 122 reseats the valve member 120 at theinstance return movement commences, whereby a partial vacuum is createdin the compression chamber 112 which overcomes the force of the spring116 and enables the valve member 114 to unseat so that liquid detergentis sucked into the compression chamber to refill the same.

The pump not only injects detergent into the stream of wash water when aglass first engages the valve unseating plug 91 and then automaticallystops the addition of detergent to supply fresh rinse water without anyconcern by the operator but also accurately measures the amount ofliquid detergent injected in response to each surge so that the amountis maintained uniform and can be adjusted to the minimum requirement andthereby conserve detergent. Such adjustment is effected by varying thebias on the spring 125 and the normal position of the piston assemblywhich is accomplished by positioning the adjustable stop 126. Forexample, the further downwardly the stop positions the piston assembly,the shorter will be its downward stroke in response to surges, wherebythe valve member 120 will be unseated for a shorter duration and lessdetergent will be caused to be injected into the mixing chamber.

In the embodiment of the pump illustrated herein, the pump bodycomprises an upper, a lower and an intermediate plate-like section. Theupper section is formed with the water inlet 106, the water outlet 109,the mixing chamber 111 and supports the adjustable stop. Theintermediate section is formed with the stepped bore 124 and the vent129. The lower section is formed with the compression chamber 112 andthe detergent inlet 104. The peripheral edges of the diaphragms 127 and128 are respectively sealed between the upper and intermediate sectionsand the intermediate and lower section. The three sections are securedin juxtaposition to provide the pump body by bolts having nuts removablyattached thereon to facilitate taking the pump apart to periodicallyclean and inspect the same.

While the present invention has been described in connection withglassware or drinking glasses and the brushes have been illustrated ashaving ashape adapted to accommodate a generally cylindrical tumber orslightly flared glass, it will be understood that the brushescould. haveother shapes designed to accommodate sharply flared glasses includingthe receptacle section of stem ware and that the articles to be washedneed not necessarily be formed of glass but could be formed of syntheticresin or ceramic material. It is thereforeintended that the term glassas used herein is not to restrict the shape of the articles capable ofbeing washed by the present machine or the material of which thearticles are constructed.

From the foregoing description, it will beseen that the presentinvention provides an improved glass washing machine which is simple,practical and economical in construction, conserves water and detergentand effects cleaning of the brushes between glass washing operations.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention'and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is tov beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a glass washing machine, the combination of a brush assemblyincluding a rotatable support and a central brush on said support and aplurality of outer brushes in contact with said central brush, means formounting said brushes on said support for rotation about substantiallyparallel axes, and means for effecting rotation of all of said brushesin the same direction about their axis of rotation, whereby, uponinsertion of the side wall of a glass between said central brush andsaid outer brushes, the inner brush and outer brushes, tend to rotate.the glass in opposite directions to thereby eliminate rotation of theglass and provide for maximum relative movement between said brushes andthe side wall of. the glass.

2. A glass washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said lastmentioned means comprise, a central drive shaft for directly effectingrotation of said central brush, a drive shaft for each of said outerbrushes, a gear on each of said drive shafts, and an idler gear for eachouter gear meshingwithits outer gear and with said central gear to placesaid gears in planetary assembly, the gear assembly being carried bysaid rotatable support.

3. A glass washing machine according to. claim 2, including a fixed gearhaving an opening through which said central drive shaft extends inconcentric alignment therewith, and pinion means on said gear assemblysupport meshing with said; fixed gear and connected for rotation with anidler gear, whereby said outer brushes are caused to revolve aboutsaidcentral brush.

4'. In a glass washing machine, the combination of a brush, a tubularshaft having said: brush mounted thereon for effecting rotation thereofand having an. inlet and an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof and avalve seat between said inlet and said outletandhaving a second inletabove said outlet and partition. means between said outlet and saidsecond inlet having means at the upper endthereof for discharging fluidentering said second inlet, a valve member for said valve seat-having aby-pass aperture, tubular valvestem means for unseating saidvalve memberhaving its: lower end in communication with said by-pass aperture andextending through said partition means and through said shaft'outwardlybeyond the upper end thereof and having means at its upper end thereoffor discharging the by-passed fluid, means for urging said valve stemmeans in a direction to cause said valve member to engage its seat,.fluid transferring gland means for said'inlets and said outlet, andconduit means between said outlet and said second inlet.

5., A glass washing machine according to claim 4, including detergentinjection means in said conduit means.

6. In a glass washing machine, the combination of a centrally arrangedbrush having means for rotatably mounting the same including a tubularelement having an outlet at its upper end for directing washing liquidonto the interior; of the glass, a plurality of circumferentially spacedouter brushes having means for rotatably mounting the same and being incontact with said central brush and arranged to enable a glass to beinserted between said central brush and said outer brushes, means 'forefiecting rotation of all of said brush mounting means, a plurality ofcireumferentially spaced elements each between adjacent outer means fordirecting washing liquid onto the exterior of the glass, means forsupplying Washing liquid to said elements, and a valve for controllingthe flowof washing liquid to said elements including an inlet connectedto. said supply means, an outlet connected to. said elements, a valveseat between said inlet and said outlet, a valve member for said seathaving a by-pass passageway extending therethr ough, and a tubular meansconnected to said valve member in fluid flow communication with saidpassageway and being movably mounted in said tubular centralbru shelement and extending outwardly of the outlet thereof to cause saidvalve member to be unseated by the engagement of a glass with saidtubular means upon the insertion of the glass between said central brushand said outer brushes and to direct Washing liquid onto said centralbrush at a low rate when said valve member is on its seat to close saidvalve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,192,904 Jung Aug. 1, 1916 1,206,273 Veek Now-28, 1916 1,662,205 ParryMar. 13, 1928. 1,959,842 Schnee May 22, "1934 2,002,337 Bullum May-'21;1935 2,024,812 Bachelis 'Dcc. 17, 1935 2,075,010 Angelus Mar. 30, 19372,153,303 Fielding Apr. 4, 1939' 2,268,721 Ossowsky Jan. 6, 1942'2,274,309 Velton- Feb. 24, 1942 2,516,223 Lowe July 25, 1950 2,631,313Webber Mar. 17, 1953 2,636,199- Stanton Apr. 28, 1953 2,707,480 KlosseMay 3, 1955 FOREIGN: PATENTS 380,258 GreatBritain Sept. 15, 19.32

